PahaQue Design for Airstream Basecamp

PahaQue Custom has extensive experience designing, producing, and selling high quality  side tents, awnings, visors, and accessories  for T@B and T@G trailers, A-liner, R Pod, Little Guy, and more.    So when the folks at Airstream needed help designing and producing tents for the new Airstream Basecamp, they knew exactly where to turn. 

PahaQue Custom worked closely with Airstream beginning in 2015, before the first Airstream Basecamp rolled off the factory floor.  Work even started before a prototype was available, so the design crew at PahaQue actually used CAD files from AirStream  to build a full scale model of the Basecamp  roof out of plywood. This allowed PahaQue to achieve  almost perfect fit before the  first prototype arrived, at which point final design changes and fit modifications were easy to make.

Designing an early version of the tent around a plywood replica

The Basecamp tent utilizes a unique attachment that makes it easy to set up and take down, while also keeping out the harshest elements.  But the Basecamp tents are not just functional, they were designed to look great as well.  Airstream campers  have an iconic look, and it was important to maintain that  visual aesthetic.  “We’re pretty proud that we were able to design tents that complimented the cool geometry of the trailer itself.” said Jeff Basford, President of PahaQue.   The Basecamp side and rear tents add a total of 120 square feet to camper, making the Basecamp even more versatile and useful.

So if you love PahaQue Custom and you love Airstream, you are in luck.   You can get these tents along with your Airstream Basecamp trailer at any Airstream dealer, read more about the tents on the Basecamp on Airstream’s website here.

 

 

 

Chef Jason’s World Famous Camp Side Kebobs

Chef Jason’s World Famous Camp Side Kebobs

 

Who doesn’t like kebobs? Warm up with these around the camp fire or on the patio. Just because it is winter doesn’t mean we can’t grill, does it? And kebobs are just plain fun. The key to making these special is in the marinade. Of course there are countless marinades you can do. You can play mad scientist and come up with all manner of concoctions. The idea here is to have fun with it and experiment.

 

Major Players

 

• Beef cubes – Don’t use stew meat here. London broil is really great, but sometimes I even use New York Strip or rib eye (my personal favorite). Just make sure it’s cut into 1-inch cubes. 4 to 5 per kabob, so you’re looking at about 3lbs for 7 to 8 servings
• 1 ½ cups plain yogurt
• ½ cup lemon juice
• ¼ cup olive oil, plus 2 to 3 tsp for tossing veggies with
• 1 Tbsp Salt and 1 Tbsp course ground pepper (white pepper if possible)
• 6 or 7 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 heaping tablespoons of chopped rosemary (Now, you’re not using the dried stuff in little plastic jars, are you?)
• Finely chopped (leafy) fresh herbs (parsley, tarragon, marjoram, cilantro, etc…)
• 3 to 4 medium-size button mushrooms per kebob
• 1 large onion, quartered and layers separated into petals
• Wooden skewers

 

OK, the fun stuff:

First we’ll start with the marinade. Combine the yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper, garlic, and rosemary in a blender and blend until smooth. Add beef cubes to a gallon-size zip-top bag and pour in the marinade. Push out as much of the air as you can and seal the bag. Massage contents gently to make sure every piece is coated. Store in the refrigerator or icebox for at least 3 hours and up to 12. Also, soak the skewers in water at the same time, for a good 3 hours. I don’t like handling raw meat at the campsite so I prefer to assemble these at home and transport them in disposable aluminum baking pans covered with foil.  Its also easy to make a few meatless ones for your herbivore friends. 

 

Drain away marinade and discard. Toss mushrooms and onion petals with 2 to 3 tsp olive oil and salt. Use 3 to 4 beef cubes and 3 to 4 mushrooms per kabob, alternating, with onion petals separating the beef and mushrooms. Leave at least an inch of skewer on each end for handling. Cook over medium heat on all 4 sides until browned and slightly crisp. It should be about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove from heat and immediately sprinkle with the fresh-chopped herbs. Let cool for at least 5 minutes. Crowd-pleaser? I think so…

Questions/comments/requests/suggestions/limericks/thoughts on life/childhood stories? Feel free to drop me a line at jasonr@pahaque.com.

Photo Contest Time! Win a $100 Gift card

We love getting photos from our loyal customers.  We love seeing our gear being used, and we love sharing those photos with the PahaQue community.   We figured  the best way to get those photos is via a photo contest, and to give away a $100 gift card.  So here is what we need from you:

Email us at happytrails@pahaque.com and attach a photo of your PahaQue Custom or PahaQue Wilderness gear out in the real world.   Include your Instagram handle if you have one.    We love photos include people,  and pets.     In return for your lovely photo, you’ll get a chance at a $100 PahaQue Custom gift card, and a our everlasting appreciation.     Be sure to read the full contest rules below, and send us your photo by February 28, 2018.

 

 

 

Photo Contest Rules: Entries should be submitted via email as a JPEG, PNG, GIF, or TIFF attachment  Each photo should include photographer’s name, location, caption.  Any photographs including identifiable images of people must include subject’s permission.  The photographs must be your own original creations. You must be the sole owner of the copyright of any photograph(s) submitted.Your submission of each photograph is your guarantee that you are the author and copyright holder of such photograph. By entering, you also warrant that the image does  not violate or infringe upon the copyright, trademark, rights of publicity, privacy, or any other intellectual  property or other rights of any person or entity.By virtue of their entry, contestants agree  that the PahaQue and PahaQue Custom   may adapt, edit, and/or modify their photographs in any way and may also publish or  otherwise use their photographs for promotional or other purposes .  Your Submission constitutes agreement of this use  without compensation, right to royalties, or any other  compensation.

An unexpected gift for your outdoor loving Valentine

The gift that gives for 12 months, and only costs 80 bucks.

Let’s face it. A romantic dinner date for Valentine’s day is a bit amateur hour. Heading out for a fancy dinner is what almost everyone does for this winter holiday. But you  and your valentine aren’t everyone. You prefer wildflowers over a bouquet of flowers, campfire stories over dining by candlelight, and cooking with a camp stove over being served by a waiter in a suit.  So for less than the cost of a dinner date, give your sweetheart the gift that lets them know that you want more than just dinner and a movie. You want a lifetime of adventure together ( or at least 12 months of it). The America The Beautiful National Parks Pass is the ultimate Valentine’s day gift.

The America the Beautiful National Parks Pass is only $80 a year, less for seniors, and free for active military. The pass allows entry at national parks, refuges, national forests, monuments, and more. The pass is a Valentine gift that keeps on giving for a full year, and is the ticket to much more fun than a simple dinner and a movie. Of course you’ll enjoy the adventures even more if you take some time to snuggle in a double hammock, and the PahaQue Rendezvous is great for the two of you and all your gear.   Anther gift you can use  along with your parks pass is this grill basket specifically engineered to make the tastiest s’mores.  But the most important things is that you get out there and use that pass, your sweetheart will be thanking you for the next 12 months.